Do you need to write something important – and get it just right?
I help writers discover and deliver their messages with power, grace, and clarity.
I work with two sets of writers:
Working with me will help you a great deal if you identify with any of the following statements:
You can call me in at any stage of the work: brainstorming, development, or revision. When you get in touch, we’ll talk over the aim and scope of your project and the best way to tackle it. Sessions are available in-person or on Skype.
- Those with a short-term project to complete, such as an application or important letter.
- Those who are writing or wish to write a book – fiction, non-fiction, or poetry.
Working with me will help you a great deal if you identify with any of the following statements:
- You know you would benefit from gentle structure and loving support in your writing
- You want to find a new way to write – one that feels more fun, life-giving, and exploratory than the old “buckle-down” methods that have failed you in the past
- You’ve dabbled with your writing but never achieved what you desired or hoped
- You want an expert eye on your writing during the revision process to help bring it to the highest level possible
- You are done with feeling frustrated, stuck, and disappointed with your writing
You can call me in at any stage of the work: brainstorming, development, or revision. When you get in touch, we’ll talk over the aim and scope of your project and the best way to tackle it. Sessions are available in-person or on Skype.
Contact Kate to discuss your writing project:
[email protected]
978-340-8229
How I help writers
I’m a passionate, practicing writer and a loving and experienced teacher of writing. My own work has been published in books, magazines, scholarly journals, poetry magazines, and essay collections. I’ve taught writing at Harvard and Brandeis Universities for more than a decade and have coached dozens of writers outside academe. Along the way, I’ve learned lots of strategies to guide writers towards flow, enjoyment, and discovery. I believe that clarity + delight = gorgeous writing.
Here are the main areas where I can help:
♦I’m great at catching sparks.
I train all my focus and intuition on you as you speak your ideas, noting when you come alive. I help you move in the direction of excitement, eagerness, passion, and flow because that’s the energy that produces not just great writing, but completed writing!
♦I love helping writers go deeper.
Through questions and listening, I help you see the even richer springs beneath your first thoughts and words. I work a lot with questions – especially “why” questions – which energize our writing, drive us towards more exciting ideas, and help us to connect more readily with our readers.
♦I help you think like a reader.
This is THE essential skill for writing that has the power and effect we desire. In fact, I used to tell my students at Harvard and Brandeis that this one thing is what separates the boys from the men and the girls from the women: remembering the reader and kindly, consciously attending to his or her needs.
♦I help you put the pieces together to best support your ideas.
I notice that we writers often know in our bones that two things (ideas, pieces, sections) are connected but we haven’t quite done the work of explicitly connecting them – often because we’re not quite sure how yet. I like helping writers stitch the pieces together.
♦I have a knack for getting you unstuck and excited again about what you’re creating.
It’s a privilege to hold up a mirror to the power and beauty of your message. When the writing process gets wonky – and it DOES get wonky – I help you re-connect with what’s true, delicious, and important to you so you can keep going.
Here are the main areas where I can help:
♦I’m great at catching sparks.
I train all my focus and intuition on you as you speak your ideas, noting when you come alive. I help you move in the direction of excitement, eagerness, passion, and flow because that’s the energy that produces not just great writing, but completed writing!
♦I love helping writers go deeper.
Through questions and listening, I help you see the even richer springs beneath your first thoughts and words. I work a lot with questions – especially “why” questions – which energize our writing, drive us towards more exciting ideas, and help us to connect more readily with our readers.
♦I help you think like a reader.
This is THE essential skill for writing that has the power and effect we desire. In fact, I used to tell my students at Harvard and Brandeis that this one thing is what separates the boys from the men and the girls from the women: remembering the reader and kindly, consciously attending to his or her needs.
♦I help you put the pieces together to best support your ideas.
I notice that we writers often know in our bones that two things (ideas, pieces, sections) are connected but we haven’t quite done the work of explicitly connecting them – often because we’re not quite sure how yet. I like helping writers stitch the pieces together.
♦I have a knack for getting you unstuck and excited again about what you’re creating.
It’s a privilege to hold up a mirror to the power and beauty of your message. When the writing process gets wonky – and it DOES get wonky – I help you re-connect with what’s true, delicious, and important to you so you can keep going.
Writing my novel was an adventure, and having Kate to guide me was a big reason why I completed it. I held my printed book, The Way We Touch, in my hand a few days before Christmas 2015. I will always be grateful for Kate’s help and friendship. If you have something you’ve wanted to create and have been putting it off, Kate can get you moving toward your goal. She is a kind, intelligent, and gentle mentor, and she gets results. ---Betty Keddy, author of The Way We Touch
Kate was able to draw from me the details that helped me to create a quality essay – an essay that I loved and which helped me get accepted at 5/5 colleges! I’m now going to go to my first choice college and feel a sense of accomplishment. If you’re considering working with Kate, I’d say: “Kate knows what she’s doing and working with her you will produce the most quality and beautiful essay you can.” —Sophie Schell
Thank you so, so much for your above-and-beyond help today. You were very generous to give that much of your time, skill, and focus. I feel extremely confident about my portfolio and I know I would not have this assurance without the aid of your magical fine-toothed comb. I admire your musical ear for cadence and your uncanny ability to catch the soul of a piece and those energetic “hot spots”. You assisted me in realizing what I wanted to say and helped me draw out those meanings with sharper clarity. Thank you for the illuminations. I’m so grateful I crossed paths with you. —Sarah Sheehan
Kate helped me enter into the writer’s life and begin to build new muscles for writing – not just for “fun” or work, but for a deeper purpose. I enjoyed the structure, consistency, fluidity and care. If you are seeking a wise guide and a loving heart, and if you are open to receiving direct and clear fruitful feedback, Kate is a master of meeting you where you are and nudging you a little further. —Gayle Colman
Kate helped me with my medical school personal statement. By the end of our work together, my essay had a stronger thesis, stronger conclusions, and was much more insightful. Kate is extremely talented at helping with analysis, making conclusions, and polishing the language. Without a doubt I would say she is one of the best writers I’ve ever met, and also an excellent teacher. —Yisha Cheng
Kate, so much changed for me through working with you in The Bardic Academy! From our first session, I felt imprinted with an artist’s way of self-care and the freedom to honor my own direction and ability. Your intuitive and academic skills as well as your true spiritual awareness were present for me with each step I took. I discovered an expanded ease in considering questions I’d been reluctant to address. Rather than my pattern of trying harder and doing more, I learned a new way of writing that is indeed “an aspiration of the heart. —Linda Havel, poet
Before I worked with Kate, writing my college application essay seemed impossible, daunting, and stressful. She helped me feel right at home and our work together was exciting and light-hearted. Now, I’m wicked excited about my essay, and I can’t wait to show people! – Will Cochran
Working on my college application essay with Kate, I learned that I really can write! The process was a lot of fun and really helpful. Now, I feel confident about my essay and happy that it shows my personality and my passion for music. – Mary Hyde
You are a terrific resource and mentor for guidance on college essays. It was such a wonderful thing to see my son beaming at having written a thoughtful and beautiful essay. It’s good for him to know that there is a person outside his family who can be a resource and friend in this exciting and stressful time of his life. —Regina McGee
Thank you so much for helping me to create and finish my essay. I had fun working with you. You helped me remember things that I didn’t even know I had memories of. You were very easy to talk to and you made feel comfortable telling my story. —Pedro Junior
I love Abby’s essay! It sounded like Abby, with her voice and also her growing sense of its power. What a terrific process for Abby to write with you and at the same time take ownership and pride in her convictions. I think the competition will be tight, but regardless I think this has been a truly valuable experience for her. —Patty Howells
Dear Kate, I got into my program! Thank you for all of your help on my essay. It certainly helped a lot! —Abby H.
I asked people for edits but no one gave me much that was helpful. Your suggestions, though, were specific and constructive. I wasn’t overwhelmed. I knew exactly how to start improving my essay. —Adelaide Lyall
I thought my essay was already was done, but after talking to Kate, I saw there was much more to do to improve it. The changes she suggested made sense and really made a difference. Now I have what I need! —Herve Irakoze
I loved working with you. I appreciate the specific feedback you gave me in our discussions. You really helped me see the overall structure and get clear on my essay’s main point. I feel really confident about my essay now! —Joe Harrington
Kate was able to draw from me the details that helped me to create a quality essay – an essay that I loved and which helped me get accepted at 5/5 colleges! I’m now going to go to my first choice college and feel a sense of accomplishment. If you’re considering working with Kate, I’d say: “Kate knows what she’s doing and working with her you will produce the most quality and beautiful essay you can.” —Sophie Schell
Thank you so, so much for your above-and-beyond help today. You were very generous to give that much of your time, skill, and focus. I feel extremely confident about my portfolio and I know I would not have this assurance without the aid of your magical fine-toothed comb. I admire your musical ear for cadence and your uncanny ability to catch the soul of a piece and those energetic “hot spots”. You assisted me in realizing what I wanted to say and helped me draw out those meanings with sharper clarity. Thank you for the illuminations. I’m so grateful I crossed paths with you. —Sarah Sheehan
Kate helped me enter into the writer’s life and begin to build new muscles for writing – not just for “fun” or work, but for a deeper purpose. I enjoyed the structure, consistency, fluidity and care. If you are seeking a wise guide and a loving heart, and if you are open to receiving direct and clear fruitful feedback, Kate is a master of meeting you where you are and nudging you a little further. —Gayle Colman
Kate helped me with my medical school personal statement. By the end of our work together, my essay had a stronger thesis, stronger conclusions, and was much more insightful. Kate is extremely talented at helping with analysis, making conclusions, and polishing the language. Without a doubt I would say she is one of the best writers I’ve ever met, and also an excellent teacher. —Yisha Cheng
Kate, so much changed for me through working with you in The Bardic Academy! From our first session, I felt imprinted with an artist’s way of self-care and the freedom to honor my own direction and ability. Your intuitive and academic skills as well as your true spiritual awareness were present for me with each step I took. I discovered an expanded ease in considering questions I’d been reluctant to address. Rather than my pattern of trying harder and doing more, I learned a new way of writing that is indeed “an aspiration of the heart. —Linda Havel, poet
Before I worked with Kate, writing my college application essay seemed impossible, daunting, and stressful. She helped me feel right at home and our work together was exciting and light-hearted. Now, I’m wicked excited about my essay, and I can’t wait to show people! – Will Cochran
Working on my college application essay with Kate, I learned that I really can write! The process was a lot of fun and really helpful. Now, I feel confident about my essay and happy that it shows my personality and my passion for music. – Mary Hyde
You are a terrific resource and mentor for guidance on college essays. It was such a wonderful thing to see my son beaming at having written a thoughtful and beautiful essay. It’s good for him to know that there is a person outside his family who can be a resource and friend in this exciting and stressful time of his life. —Regina McGee
Thank you so much for helping me to create and finish my essay. I had fun working with you. You helped me remember things that I didn’t even know I had memories of. You were very easy to talk to and you made feel comfortable telling my story. —Pedro Junior
I love Abby’s essay! It sounded like Abby, with her voice and also her growing sense of its power. What a terrific process for Abby to write with you and at the same time take ownership and pride in her convictions. I think the competition will be tight, but regardless I think this has been a truly valuable experience for her. —Patty Howells
Dear Kate, I got into my program! Thank you for all of your help on my essay. It certainly helped a lot! —Abby H.
I asked people for edits but no one gave me much that was helpful. Your suggestions, though, were specific and constructive. I wasn’t overwhelmed. I knew exactly how to start improving my essay. —Adelaide Lyall
I thought my essay was already was done, but after talking to Kate, I saw there was much more to do to improve it. The changes she suggested made sense and really made a difference. Now I have what I need! —Herve Irakoze
I loved working with you. I appreciate the specific feedback you gave me in our discussions. You really helped me see the overall structure and get clear on my essay’s main point. I feel really confident about my essay now! —Joe Harrington